24HEClaims for protection

24HE Claims for protection

(1) If, in civil or criminal proceedings (the primary proceedings) instituted against a person in a court, the person makes a claim (relevant to the proceedings) that, because of section 24HB, the person is not subject to any civil, criminal or administrative liability for making a particular disclosure: (a) the person bears the onus of adducing or pointing to evidence that suggests a reasonable possibility that the claim is made out; and (b) if the person discharges that onus—the party instituting the primary proceedings against the person bears the onus of proving that the claim is not made out; and (c) the court must deal with the claim in separate proceedings; and (d) the court must adjourn the primary proceedings until the claim has been dealt with; and (e) none of the following: (i) any admission made by the person in the separate proceedings; (ii) any information given by the person in the separate proceedings; (iii) any other evidence adduced by the person in the separate proceedings; is admissible in evidence against the person except in proceedings in respect of the falsity of the admission, information or evidence; and (f) if the person or another person gives evidence in the separate proceedings in support of the claim—giving that evidence does not amount to a waiver of privilege for the purposes of the primary proceedings or any other proceedings. (2) To avoid doubt, a right under section 126K of the Evidence Act 1995 not to be compelled to give evidence is a privilege for the purposes of paragraph (1)(f) of this section.